KOTA KINABALU: A decision must be made without further delay on Sabah’s 40% special grant whether through roundtable discussions or court proceedings, says Backbenchers Club (BBC) chairman Datuk Masiung Banah.
A final determination is needed to end the ongoing speculation that continues to dominate debates between the State and Federal Governments, he said Tuesday (April 21).
He said the proposal to find a quick and firm decision on the issue arose during an executive engagement session organised by the BBC and the Chief Minister’s Political Secretary’s Office in Kota Kinabalu.
The engagement, which involved government assemblymen, Sabah MPs, and senior government officials was held at the Sabah International Convention Centre here.
Masiung said the proposal will be forwarded to the Technical Committee under the Malaysia Agreement 1963 Implementation Action Council (MTPMA63) to draft follow-up actions as Sabah’s latest resolution.
“A decision must be made to end the prolonged discussions without consensus on Sabah’s 40% revenue entitlement under MA63,” he added.
He said Sabah’s negotiating team is optimistic the Technical Committee, chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof, could resolve the matter with a win-win outcome.
Masiung, who is also Sedco Group chairman, said MTPMA63—comprising leaders and senior officials from both Sabah and the Federal Government—must respect the resolutions raised during the executive governance session.
Other issues raised during the session included the presence of non-citizen foreign residents in Sabah and the increase in electricity tariffs.
Five panel members were invited to present on Sabah’s three main issues, including the Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Sabah and Sarawak) Datuk Seri Mustapha Sakmut, Sabah Immigration Department, Department of Statistics Malaysia, and the Sabah Chief Minister’s Department.
